New Guinea Fowl Babies Hatch

06/30/2005
One of our garden workers noticed a lot of peeping from one of the applemint beds today and decided to investigate. As she approached the bed, an adult guinea fowl exited the bed, followed by about 20 chicks! The chicks are about the size of a golf ball, with brown plumage and bright orange feet. (The adults are gray and black).

The guinea flock surrounded the proud new mother and her chicks and moved around the cutting beds for the rest of the afternoon in a tight group. We noticed that the brand new chicks were feeding on grubs and small insects just like the adults!

The adults have really been going after the Japanese beetles which appeared last week in our outside cutting beds (about two acre size). However, as there are only five adult guineas left, they have been unable to put a noticible dent in the tremendous number of beetles which have appeared. Consequently we are delighted at the new additions to the flock. Not only will we have a greater number of Japanese beetle eaters, but the new additions will be imprinted on our farm and (hopefullY) will stay closer to home than the adult group we bought.

Mother Nature never ceases to amaze us.